Washington's Isaiah McWilliams preps for state wrestling meet

South Bend Washington's Isaiah McWilliams has won nearly every time he's taken the mat the past two years.

This weekend, he'll chase the one victory that's eluded him in his high school career.

"It would feel great," McWilliams says of the prospect of winning a state title.

The Panther heavyweight has lost just twice in the last 2 seasons: Once was last year in the state title match. The other was last weekend in the final match of the semi-state.

And it's the losses that fuel him, much more than the wins.

"Ever since (losing the state final last year), I've got the ribbon hanging in my room.," McWilliams says. "Every day I see it when I walk out my room to school. When I come back to my room its there. I see it. It keeps fueling me."

And make him realize how much it would mean to bring home a state title.

"It would mean a lot. All the work I've put in. All the extra time, all the summers I gave up. All the things I missed out on doing, working to become a state champion."